About Us

THE USERS OF SESAME

The users of SESAME will be scientists, including graduate students, mostly based in universities and research institutes in the Middle East and neighbouring countries - profiles of some potential users may be found in the SESAME People Brochure. It is expected that they will typically visit the laboratory for a week or two, two or three times a year, to carry out experiments on the beamline that corresponds to the needs of their work, often in collaboration with scientists from other centers/countries, where they will be exposed to the highest scientific standards in a stimulating environment for international collaboration, and then return home to analyze the data they have obtained. These scientists bring back scientific expertise and knowledge, which they share with their colleagues and students at home.

SESAME's well-equipped beamlines, experimental end stations, laboratories, and other support facilities will be available to users, and a highly-trained scientific, technical and administrative staff will ensure that both experienced and inexperienced users of the Centre are successful in their experiments.

Subject to the approval of their experiments and the allocation of beam time, scientists from the Members of SESAME working in relevant areas of research and training, have access to the SESAME science facilities, including existing beamlines and instruments, free of charge. Scientists from non-Members (including Observers) also have access to the SESAME science facilities free of charge provided their participation contributes to maintaining or improving the intellectual, instrumental or teaching standards of the overall programme or are of exceptional scientific or technical quality, or otherwise in the clear interest of SESAME or of science in the Middle East and neighbouring regions. Their activities should be carried out preferentially in collaboration with scientists from Members. Full information on the SESAME User Policy may be downloaded here.

There is a Guest House on the SESAME campus to accommodate visiting scientists during their experiments and a Cafeteria will be available for users.

Several hundred scientists, working in disciplines ranging from the biological and medical sciences to archaeology, are expected to use SESAME from “Day One”. This will make SESAME a unique multidisciplinary centre in the region. As more beamlines are built, the number of users is expected to grow to 1000 or more.

The potential user community in the region, which in 2017 already numbered some 300, has been fostered by a variety of training opportunities and events (users’ meetings, schools and workshops) which have been supported by a range of national and international organizations.